Moving to France from Turkey

Visa Pathways for Turkish Nationals

Turkish nationals need a long-stay visa to reside in France for more than 90 days, and a short-stay Schengen visa for visits of up to 90 days within any 180-day period ^[1]. Both must be obtained from the French consulate in Turkey before travel.

How the VLS-TS works.

The visa de long sejour valant titre de sejour (VLS-TS) functions as both an entry visa and a residence permit for up to 12 months, covering salaried employment, student enrollment, family reunification, and qualified professional categories ^[1]. You apply at the French consulate in Ankara or Istanbul. Within three months of arrival, you must validate it online and pay an associated tax.

Salaried worker visa.

The employer requests a work authorization from the regional labor authority ^[2]. Once approved, you apply for the VLS-TS at the consulate with the authorization, your employment contract, and supporting documents. The process requires the employer to demonstrate that the position was advertised and no suitable EU/EEA candidate was found, though shortage-occupation exemptions apply for certain fields.

Qualified professionals.

The talent passport (passeport talent) provides a multi-year residence card (up to four years) for qualified professionals, researchers, company founders, investors, and artists ^[1]. For qualified employees, the position must pay above a salary threshold tied to a multiple of the French minimum wage (SMIC). Researchers need a hosting agreement from a French research institution. This pathway does not require a labor market test.

Student visa.

Turkish students admitted to a French university or grande ecole apply for the student VLS-TS. Campus France Turkey handles the pre-application process, including academic verification and interview. Students can work up to 964 hours per year (roughly 20 hours per week) during studies.

Family reunification.

If your spouse or parent is already a legal resident in France, you can apply for family reunification (regroupement familial). The sponsor must meet income and housing requirements set by OFII (Office Francais de l'Immigration et de l'Integration). Processing typically takes several months.

Long-term residence.

Before your VLS-TS expires, you apply for a carte de sejour pluriannuelle (multi-year residence card) at your local prefecture. This card is valid for up to four years depending on your status category. After five continuous years of legal residence, you can apply for a carte de resident ^[3].

Tax Obligations in France

France taxes residents on worldwide income once they establish fiscal domicile, determined by primary residence, principal professional activity, or center of economic interests ^[1].

French income tax brackets.

France uses a progressive scale. For 2025 income (declared in 2026), the rates are: 0% up to 11,600 EUR, 11% from 11,601 to 29,579 EUR, 30% from 29,580 to 84,577 EUR, 41% from 84,578 to 181,917 EUR, and 45% above 181,917 EUR ^[1]. The family quotient system divides household income by the number of fiscal parts, reducing the effective rate for families with children.

Turkey-France double taxation.

Turkey and France have a bilateral tax convention that assigns taxing rights and provides mechanisms to prevent the same income from being taxed twice. Employment income is generally taxed in the country where the work is performed. Turkish-source income (rental property, investments, or pensions from Turkey) may be taxable in both countries, with the convention providing foreign tax credits or exemptions to avoid paying full rates in both jurisdictions. Consult a cross-border tax advisor to understand how the convention applies to your specific situation.

Social charges.

Beyond income tax, France levies CSG (Contribution Sociale Generalisee) and CRDS (Contribution pour le Remboursement de la Dette Sociale) on most income types. Employment income is subject to both employee and employer social contributions that fund healthcare, retirement, unemployment insurance, and family benefits. Total employee-side deductions (including CSG/CRDS) reduce gross salary significantly.

Turkish tax exit.

Turkey taxes its residents on worldwide income. When you leave Turkey, your earned-income tax obligations end once you are no longer a Turkish tax resident (generally after spending fewer than six months per calendar year in Turkey). Turkish-source income such as rental income from property in Turkey remains taxable in Turkey regardless of your residence. File a final Turkish return for the year of departure.

Self-employment.

If you work as an independent professional from France, you register with URSSAF and pay into the French social security system. The auto-entrepreneur regime offers simplified accounting and flat-rate social contributions for revenue below certain thresholds. Above those thresholds, you operate under the regime reel with quarterly or monthly social contribution payments.

Healthcare Enrollment

Turkey's SGK (Sosyal Guvenlik Kurumu) system does not cover medical expenses abroad. Your Turkish health insurance ends when you are no longer contributing to the SGK system as a Turkish resident. You need French coverage from the date you arrive.

PUMa (Protection Universelle Maladie).

France provides universal healthcare to all stable residents. Once you have a valid residence title and have established stable residence, you can apply to your local CPAM (Caisse Primaire d'Assurance Maladie) for enrollment. Employed workers are enrolled automatically through their employer's social security declarations.

Complementary insurance (mutuelle).

France's public system reimburses approximately 70% of standard outpatient costs. The remaining portion (ticket moderateur) plus any additional fees charged by practitioners is covered by complementary mutual insurance. Employers are required by law to offer a mutuelle to salaried employees and cover at least half of the premium. Self-employed and inactive residents must arrange their own mutuelle.

Bridge coverage.

Between leaving Turkey and enrolling in PUMa, you need temporary health insurance. International plans from providers like Cigna Global or Allianz Care can serve as bridge coverage. If you are entering France on a salaried worker visa, your employer-sponsored coverage typically begins on your first day of work, minimizing the gap.

Prescription medications.

France uses international nonproprietary names (DCI/INN) for generic drugs, the same system Turkey uses. Bring a letter from your Turkish doctor listing medications by generic name and dosage. Some medications available without prescription in Turkey require one in France. Controlled substances, particularly benzodiazepines and opioid-based painkillers, have stricter dispensing rules in France.

Carte Vitale.

After CPAM enrollment, you receive a carte vitale (green electronic card) used at pharmacies, doctors, and hospitals. Processing takes several weeks. In the interim, you can pay out of pocket and submit paper reimbursement claims (feuille de soins).

Banking and Finances

Opening a French bank account.

You can open an account with your passport, proof of address in France, and your residence title (VLS-TS or carte de sejour). Major banks include BNP Paribas, Societe Generale, Credit Agricole, and La Banque Postale. Online banks like Boursorama, Fortuneo, and N26 are popular alternatives with lower fees. Some banks may request proof of income or an employment contract. If any bank refuses to open an account, you have a legal right to a basic bank account (droit au compte) through the Banque de France.

Keeping Turkish bank accounts.

You can maintain Turkish bank accounts after moving to France. Turkey does not restrict non-residents from holding accounts. However, you must declare all foreign accounts to French tax authorities on Form 3916 with your annual tax return. Failure to declare carries significant penalties.

Currency.

France uses the euro, Turkey uses the Turkish lira. The TRY/EUR exchange rate has been volatile in recent years. If you maintain Turkish-source income, the conversion rate directly affects your purchasing power. Services like Wise and Revolut offer better exchange rates than traditional bank wire transfers for recurring conversions.

Remittances.

Many Turkish nationals in France send money to family in Turkey. Traditional bank transfers carry fees and poor exchange rates. Wise, Western Union, and Ria are commonly used alternatives with transparent fee structures. Compare total cost (fees plus exchange rate markup) rather than just headline fees.

Social security coordination.

Turkey and France have a bilateral social security agreement that coordinates pension rights and prevents dual social security contributions for posted workers. French pension contributions count toward Turkish pension eligibility under the agreement, and vice versa. You can collect a French pension while living in Turkey after retirement.

French tax identification.

Upon your first tax filing, the French tax authority (Direction Generale des Finances Publiques) assigns you a numero fiscal. You will also receive a numero de securite sociale (social security number) when you register with CPAM. Both numbers are essential for administrative life in France.

Moving Logistics

Shipping household goods.

Door-to-door shipping from Turkey to France is available by road or sea. Road transit from Istanbul to Paris takes approximately one week. Sea freight from Turkish ports (Istanbul, Izmir, Mersin) to Marseille or Le Havre takes two to three weeks. Customs clearance is required because Turkey is not in the EU single market. You need an inventory list, proof of residence transfer (titre de sejour or VLS-TS), and proof of prior residence in Turkey. Personal belongings are generally exempt from customs duties under the residence-transfer provision, provided you owned and used them for at least six months before your move.

Importing a car.

Bringing a Turkish-registered car to France requires customs clearance, payment of VAT on the vehicle's assessed value (unless exempt under the residence-transfer provision), a certificate of conformity (COC) showing EU standards compliance, and a French controle technique (vehicle inspection). Turkish-spec vehicles may need headlight adjustments and other modifications to meet EU standards. Most people find it simpler to sell their car in Turkey and buy locally in France.

Flights.

Direct flights from Istanbul to Paris operate daily with Turkish Airlines and Air France, with flight time around 3.5 hours. Direct connections also serve Lyon, Marseille, and Nice from Istanbul. Budget carriers like Pegasus Airlines serve secondary French airports.

Pets.

Dogs and cats entering France from Turkey need an ISO 15-digit microchip, a valid rabies vaccination given after the microchip and at least 21 days before travel, a rabies antibody titer test (blood test taken at least 30 days after vaccination, with results available at least three months before travel because Turkey is not on the EU's list of approved countries for simplified pet entry), and a health certificate issued by an official Turkish veterinarian shortly before departure. Start the process at least four months before your planned move.

Time zone.

France is on CET (UTC+1), while Turkey is on TRT (UTC+3). France is two hours behind Turkey year-round (Turkey does not observe daylight saving time). If you work remotely for Turkish clients, the two-hour offset is manageable, with French mornings aligning with Turkish late mornings.

Cultural Adjustment

Turkish community in France.

France has one of the largest Turkish-origin communities in Western Europe, with significant populations in Paris, Lyon, Strasbourg, and the Alsace region. Turkish grocery stores, restaurants, mosques, and cultural associations operate in most major cities. This network provides a social safety net for new arrivals, but relying on it exclusively can slow French language acquisition.

Language.

French is essential for daily life. Outside the Turkish community, English proficiency in France is lower than in Northern Europe. Government offices, healthcare providers, landlords, and most employers operate in French. Turkish and French share no linguistic roots, so reaching conversational fluency takes more time than for Romance language speakers. Budget for structured French courses (Alliance Francaise, university programs, or private tutors) starting before your move, with a target of B1 proficiency for daily independence.

Work culture.

French workplace culture is more formal and hierarchical than many Turkish professionals expect. The 35-hour legal workweek is standard, though managers (cadres) often work longer hours. Lunch breaks are typically 60 to 90 minutes. Workplace communication uses "vous" (formal address) until explicitly invited to use "tu." Punctuality for meetings is expected.

Food and daily life.

French and Turkish cuisines share Mediterranean influences, and many ingredients overlap (olive oil, lamb, vegetables, legumes). Halal meat is widely available in French cities, with boucheries halal in most neighborhoods with significant Muslim populations. French grocery stores carry a wide range of products, and Turkish specialty stores fill gaps for items like sucuk, cay, and Turkish bread varieties.

Bureaucracy.

French administrative processes require patience and documentation. Prefecture appointments for residence card renewals, CPAM enrollment, and tax filings all involve online systems that can be challenging for non-native speakers. Administrative letters arrive by post, and some deadlines are strict. Keep copies of all documents and correspondence.

Social integration.

Building a social circle outside the Turkish community takes effort. French friendships develop slowly, often through shared activities (sports clubs, neighborhood associations, parents' groups at schools) rather than spontaneous socializing. Language proficiency is the single biggest factor in social integration. Joining a French language exchange (tandem linguistique) or a local cultural club accelerates the process.

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